Shetland’s Douglas Henshall’s new role and why he won’t return to BBC series – Daily Record
Shetland star Douglas Henshall has been hailed as “barely recognisable” in a new thriller series, years after his exit from the BBC programme.
Meghna Amin Screen Time Reporter
12:09, 10 Dec 2025
Everything you need to know about Shetland star Douglas Henshall’s new TV role and why he won’t return to the BBC series
- Shetland actor Douglas Henshall looks unrecognisable in his new role, after Paramount+ released a trailer for The Revenge Club. The six-part series stars Line of Duty’s Martin Compston, alongside Peaky Blinders’ Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Douglas, in the role of Steve.
- His character is one of six lonely strangers who are brought together at a divorce support group after suffering from betrayal and heartbreak. The synopsis teases: “With little in common beyond their emotional baggage, they form an unlikely bond and come up with a wildly misguided idea: to take revenge on the people who broke their hearts. What starts as a cathartic outlet quickly spirals into something far more chaotic, as their retribution escalates from petty pranks – forged exam papers, tarot cons, and rat invasions – to deadly accidents. As the group’s plans grow bolder, the line between justice and chaos begins to blur – and someone might just take things too far. The Revenge Club is a wickedly fun revenge thriller that dares to ask: what if getting even felt better than falling in love?”
- Douglas appears in the trailer for the new series, with his character Steve opening up about his family life. He’s worlds away from his Shetland role as he leads a chaotic sabotage operation involving rats and becomes the top dog of the group, desperate to make everyone’s partners suffer. In a British accent, he proposes a toast “to revenge, how losers become winners,” but things soon spiral out of control.
- Douglas previously starred as Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez in Shetland between 2013 and 2022. He is also known for his role as Professor Nick Cutter in Primeval between 2007 and 2011, and has elsewhere starred in Outlander, Collision, and In Plain Sight.
- At the time of his Shetland exit, he said he was ready to move on from the role after Jimmy’s journey came to an end. He told the BBC: “I never wanted to ruin the things that were unique to him and our series, so it felt like the right time to wrap up his story in a way that would be satisfactory to everybody.” He later told This Morning host Alison Hammond, when probed on a possible return: “No, I’m done.”
- READ THE FULL STORY: Shetland star ‘barely recognisable’ as he drops Scottish accent for new thriller
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